When Care Connect was first established, initially as West Care Linkages, we had only three staff members operating out of a single office in Melbourne’s inner west. Our founding purpose was to prevent the premature admission of senior Australians into residential aged care by equipping them with the support they needed to maintain their independence at home.
Fast forward three decades and as we celebrate our 30th anniversary, our purpose remains the same: to ensure that older Australians can age with freedom, confidence, and dignity in their own homes, and continue living the lives they love.
It’s a milestone that encourages us to reflect on our journey and growth over the years. Once a team of three, we now have nearly 400 passionate staff members operating across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, and access to one of Australia’s largest networks of care workers.
We’ve grown our offering beyond aged care, providing a broad range of inclusive and culturally appropriate in-home care services tailored to our clients’ individual needs—from personal care and household assistance, to nursing, allied health services, and social support. We also introduced Care Finder, a wonderful free service designed to assist vulnerable older people who need extra support in navigating the aged care system to access the care they need.
Throughout this journey, our clients have remained our number one priority. Over the past three decades, we’ve had the privilege of assisting more than 85,000 people, forming meaningful relationships that often extend far beyond service provision. Even after all this time, seeing the impact we have on our clients’ lives is still the most rewarding part of the job.
What I’ve learnt over the years is that in-home care is built on relationships and genuine connection—on making each person feel seen, heard, and understood as an individual. Taking the time to ask questions, listen, and get to know the whole person is essential if we are to deliver true person-centred care, and it is the reason why many of our clients consider their care managers as part of the family.
I have also learnt that connection is formed most easily in a home environment. People open up more when they feel comfortable and at ease, giving our staff the chance to authentically form an understanding of the unique needs, preferences, and history of a person.
This is precisely why it’s important for older people to remain independent at home for as long as they can—because home is where we thrive. For many seniors, being at home means being closer to family, friends, and neighbours, not to mention the places and activities they enjoy. We also know people recover from illness and injury faster at home than anywhere else, when they can be supported by their loved ones and the services they need. With Australians now living longer than ever before and our healthcare industry under increased pressure, enabling older people to remain independent at home makes excellent sense.
If our clients are the heart of our organisation, our people are the lifeblood. And I’ve learnt that while qualifications and technical knowledge are essential, these skills can be developed. Recruiting for heart and values, on the other hand, can often mean the difference between forming a meaningful connection and simply providing a service.
People who are driven by passion and purpose are not only more likely to achieve better client outcomes, but also to remain engaged and dedicated, even during periods of change or uncertainty—something the aged care sector is no stranger to.
Looking back on thirty years of in-home care, I feel both a deep sense of gratitude and excitement for what’s to come. The next 12 months—and indeed, the next few years—will bring significant change for the sector, but I’m confident we can continue to make a positive impact and grow as an organisation by focusing on what’s always been most important: our purpose.
Lynda Chalmers is the CEO of Care Connect, a leading provider of in-home care services across New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria.
With a strong focus on innovative solutions and improving client outcomes, Lynda has been at the forefront of the health and aged care sector for over 30 years. Her expertise spans both for-profit and not-for-profit organisations, with experience in health, community, disability, and aged care sectors. Prior to joining Care Connect in 2024, Lynda held key leadership roles at Mercy Health and Royal Freemasons.
As CEO, Lynda is dedicated to fostering a values-driven and client-centred culture. Her leadership and commitment to quality care, underpinned by her lived experience and clinical background, ensure that every Care Connect client receives the highest standard of care in the comfort of their own home.
Lynda’s vision is to ensure that people remain at the heart of everything Care Connect does, helping them live independently with confidence and dignity.
